This interview was originally published on Voyage LA.
 

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating UCLA I moved to Newport Beach to work for a top interior designer focusing on high end custom homes and nationwide multi-family apartment communities. In my mid-twenties I determined that New York City was the place I wanted to be to expand my career to Real Estate Development. There I found an incredible position in Cape Advisors which gave me a deeper knowledge of Real Estate Investments and also Interior and Exterior Architecture of Apartments, Condominiums, and Hotels.

After 7 years in New York I returned to my California roots and opened up my own Design Firm, Clerel Design. Combining my knowledge from my early twenties in custom home interior design compiled with the experience that I gained in New York on large scale high end residential and commercial investment projects I have been able to bring that expertise to my current work in multi-family residential real estate design and construction.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every successful career has obstacles and if you are trying to make an impact you’ll always have to overcome challenges. It would be hard to pick one particular situation because part of being an entrepreneur is about being a problem solver. Most importantly, it’s about getting knocked to the ground and getting back up…takes grit to really succeed.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Clerel Design – what should we know?
My company’s main focus is on garden style apartment buildings that date back to the 1960’s and 1970’s. Most of the buildings have some good qualities about them but lack of attention over the years has caused them to be in poor shape. Each project is unique and we have to evaluate the architectural style and attributes and find what we can “highlight” and what we want to “mask” in the renovation. Budget is always a factor in these projects as they investments.

What sets Clerel Design apart is that we have a clear understanding and appreciation for architectural style and capturing the essence of the intentions of the original design. Bringing beauty back in to a building takes talent and covering up 30-50 years of aging is an art. We also have a separate construction company, Clerel Construction which gives us more control over our workmen and the outcome of the project.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Creative Vision